The simplicity and convenience of having everything you need in a single tattoo kit can sound quite alluring if you’re new to the tattoo business. It’s less expensive than purchasing individual pieces and eliminates the possibility of forgetting something important. On the other hand, the majority of skilled tattoo artists with actual industry expertise typically disapprove of tattoo kits.
Is this argument valid, or are these kits simply receiving a poor rap? The truth is a little more nuanced than a straightforward yes or no answer, as it is with most things in life. We’ll look at both perspectives on the situation below. You can decide whether or not tattoo kits are a good option once you have all the pertinent information at your disposal.
The Negative Aspect of Tattoo Kits
It cannot be emphasised before we delve too deeply into the topic: the best approach to begin a career or even a passionate study of tattoo artistry is to find a professional artist and work as their apprentice first. Self-taught tattooing is not a good idea. It would not be worth the risk to use someone who is not professionally trained in the skill because of the possibility of infection, permanent scarring, and other medical consequences.
This brings us to the fundamental reason why industry professionals generally despise tattoo kits: they present a dangerous temptation for untrained non-apprentices to practise tattooing in harmful settings. Since the majority of seller websites don’t demand any kind of proof of experience before they will sell you a kit, practically anyone may get a cheap tattoo kit online. However, doing background checks on every single buyer is a time-consuming operation that negates the initial convenience and cost-saving advantages of online shopping. Many tattoo kits offer instructional materials that aggressively promote safe and hygienic practices as a compromise. This lessens the likelihood that beginners may unintentionally spread diseases or tattoo someone inappropriately. Still, it cannot replace a formal blood-borne pathogen control class (required in most states to work as a tattoo artist).
Many tattoo kits on the market typically don’t contain the best ingredients, so most professionals avoid using them. Using subpar materials might result in a wide range of issues. The aesthetic appeal of your tattoo might be seriously harmed by untuned equipment, subpar ink, or a shoddy needle. But that’s not all; inexpensive kits have a minuscule risk of dispersing illnesses even in sterile settings due to contaminated ink or incorrectly packed disposable needles.
The Usefulness of Tattoo Kits
Tattoo kits can still be quite helpful and are highly appreciated by many industry professionals despite controversy and unfavourable opinions. Value and convenience are two very good reasons for this.
Sure, many subpar “beginning” tattoo kits out on the market are designed to make a quick profit, but those are quite simple to identify and stay away from. In the tattoo industry, various reputable producers organise, package, and market premium kits at incredibly competitive pricing (compared to ordering the individual products and supplies separately). Privately owned tattoo parlours that must control overhead costs to maintain their small company health especially benefit from these cost-effective savings. Additionally, a cheap tattoo kit for beginners provides a low barrier to entry into the industry, enabling aspiring tattoo artists to follow their aspirations without having to assume a significant financial risk.
Furthermore, the usefulness of high-level kits cannot be overstated. As previously indicated, you could go through the tiresome process of purchasing every single machine part, a bottle of ink, needle, and a sheet of stencil paper from a different seller, or you could get all of the required supplies at once from one source. Which option has a better sound?
